The Department of Plastic Surgery, Hand and Burns Surgery at Aachen University Hospital is one of the most highly regarded in Germany. It offers the full spectrum of plastic surgery, which encompasses reconstructive and aesthetic operations, hand surgery and treatment for burn victims.

Treatment focuses on reconstructive surgery in the head and neck area, reconstruction of the breast in cancer patients and extremitypreserving microsurgery. Our centre for severe burn victims offers primary treatment to burn victims that is then followed up by secondary treatment in the form of highly specialised reconstructive plastic surgery. The department also provides the full range of aesthetic surgery.

Since 1997 the department headed up by Professor Norbert Pallua has been at the forefront of plastic and aesthetic surgery. Because of the hospital’s affiliation with the Rhenish-Westphalian Technical University in Aachen, the Department for Plastic Surgery is able to offer optimum treatment methods reflecting the latest technical and scientific developments. Throughout the treatment, patients benefit from all the services and security provided by a major hospital where there are people on duty around the clock.

The department is the only plastic surgery centre in Germany accredited by the European Board of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery (EBOPRAS).

At the Department for Plastic Surgery, the focus is on achieving the best possible aesthetic outcome whilst also restoring lost function.

Many of these highly standardised functional-reconstructive operations are performed using specialised and extremely sophisticated surgical techniques, including flapping. Microsurgery is also the main form of treatment offered for congenital malformations of the breast and hand and for reconstructions following tumour resections. Basal-cell carcinomas, melanoma and all other types of skin cancer are treated in a standardised manner in close collaboration with the relevant departments. Other specialisms of the Department for Plastic Surgery are elective and emergency hand surgery including a 24-hour replantation service, brachial plexus surgery (the treatment of injured nerves that start in the spinal cord), and surgery on the peripheral nerves.

Therapy using stem cells isolated from patients’ own body fat is an example of how the latest new techniques are employed alongside established surgical methods. Research work undertaken in the department’s own laboratory and regular participation in prestigious conferences in Germany and abroad ensure that the treatments available are always based on the latest medical knowledge.

The department’s outstanding national and international reputation is reflected in the high proportion of patients who come from other parts of Germany and from around the world, and in particular from western Europe, the Arab states and the countries of the former Eastern Bloc.

Multilingual staff ensure that everything runs smoothly for our international patients and can help with all questions regarding the hospital stay (visa, cost estimates, transport, etc.).